→ Victoria Pridgen and Kiara Gales bust out some of their best dance
moves in the waiting hall.
↓

4

Buffalo unit members embrace their miniature mascot while eagerly
awaiting for the induction ceremony to begin.

APRIL 25, 2014| GET TO THE POINT

I NDUCTI ON G ALLE RY

← Social media found it’s home amongst
the Corps Members, especially during the
induction ceremony #bestdayever.
↑

FEMA Fox Unit trio open up the ceremony
with a beautiful rendition of the National
Anthem.

↓

Fox one teams members are the first to
arrive to their seats.

← The Raven Unit gather together before
going their separate ways for first round
spike.

GET TO THE POINT | APRIL 25, 2014

5

COUNSELOR CORNER

is National Card and
April
Letter Writing Month

A

pril is National Card and Letter Writing Month. To mark this special time
of creative correspondence and the
friendly exchange of passionate, poignant
prose, the Postal Service is extending this popular campaign by carrying it over into May,
culminating with the writing and sending of
cards and letters for Mother’s Day, May 11.
“National Card and Letter Writing Month is an
opportunity for all Americans to rediscover the
timeless and very personal art of letter writing,” said Postmaster General John E. Potter.
“Both in times of peace and conflict, cards and
letters are the most effective way to share and
permanently record our thoughts, prayers,
hopes and dreams.”

written word can often be even more powerful
because someone has taken the time to write
their appreciation. A letter can also be re-read
and treasured, creating joy and love that will
continue to ripple out into the universe.
I challenge you in Class XX to send thank you
notes to your family, friends back home or on
other teams and staff who many of you might
have thought had forgotten about you during
your long weeks of Round 1 and CTI.

My list of who I want to thank is very long but
please if you ever wonder about the power of
human touches look out your window at your
duty desk….and remember in the next week to
send those notes of gratitude……When you are
having a difficult day, have a letter of thanks or
Since the beginning of recorded history, fainspiration taped inside your computer
mous people, from Moses to Martin Luther
bag…..It is an instant “Job Well done”.
King Jr., have written letters that helped shape
the destinies of entire nations. By putting their I still have my note that Ms. Jen Horan left at
thoughts on paper, some of the most powerful my door my very first day in AmeriCorps. (My
figures of all time created memoirs that not first day was the first day of in processing with
only have withstood the test of time but also a corps of 380 young folks!) It said “be ready
for the adventure of a life time …and went on
serve as guidelines for today’s youth.
to discuss the power of service……” or the note
This month, post offices across the country will
sent to me by Mr. Jason Cangelosi this past
be sponsoring a variety of projects with local
Thanksgiving after a very difficult Corps
libraries and schools to promote literacy while
year….thanking me for helping with a memteaching students about the lasting importance
ber……and notes from members who left us
of written correspondence.
prematurely who go on to give us advice on
Since 1775, the U.S. Postal Service has con- making the program better.
nected friends, families, neighbors and busiThorton Wilder is credited with this thought
nesses by mail. An independent federal agency
about gratitude “We can only be said to be
that visits 137 million homes and businesses
alive in those moments when our hearts are
every day, it is the only service provider to deconscious of our treasures.” Many thanks to
liver to every address in the nation.
my partner Kailiah who reminded me of the
In studies of people who have practiced this power of gratitude… Try 30 notes of gratitude
form of gratitude, the results have been amaz- in your jar for the next 30 days!
ing. Often the recipient of the letter had no
April has many themes…I wanted to remind
idea what an impact he or she had had on anyou of the power of gratitude and letter writother person and were deeply touched by the
ing. Get busy!
expression of such authentic gratitude.
Laura Tuck
While we may often thank people verbally, the
6

APRIL 25, 2014| GET TO THE POINT

Have Fun, Do Good: Letter Writing Ideas

COUNSELOR CORNER

1.

Make your own cards!
They have all kinds: cards that go in your printer, cards you can
paint on with watercolors, photo frame cards, and “green" cards
made of hemp, bamboo and recycled fiber. You can also re-use
old cards by cutting along the fold and reusing the side with the
image, if its backside is blank. For inspiration, check out the
book Good Mail Day: A Primer for Making Eye-Popping Postal
Art, and its corresponding Good Mail Day Flickr group.

2.

Write a letter to yourself.

3.

Writing a letter to your future self as part of a creative goal setting
ritual.

Write letter to people you love.

Whether you write to tell someone how much you love them, or just to tell them about
something funny that happened to you this week, I promise, they'll appreciate it. You
might also want to make a quick list of people who've gone through big transitions (birth,
death, moving, break up, job loss), and send them a note of encouragement, especially
after the initial outpouring of support has faded.

4.

Be a do –good pen pal.
A number of programs facilitate letter writing with people who
are sick, lonely, or are in a challenging situation like:


Amnesty International (although you aren't writing directly
to political prisoners, you're making a huge difference in their
lives)



Make a Child Smile



Letters to Soldiers:

http://letterstosoldiers.org/site/Service-Projects.html

Write random act
of kindness
cards.

5.



Soldiers' Angels



Women for Women International

You could also contact a nearby retirement home or children's
hospital and ask if they have a letter-writing program.

GET TO THE POINT | APRIL 25, 2014

7

SPI KE G ALLE RY

↑ Proper PPE (Personal Protectice Equipement) in place, members of
Moose 4 work together to saw through their task at hand.
← Zach Hall of Buffalo 3 is guided by the light during disaster recovery
services.
↓ Members of Moose 5 are documented by the local NBC news
crew.

8

APRIL 25, 2014| GET TO THE POINT

SPI KE G ALLE RY

→ Raven 1 members enjoying the
opportunities to plant in the children's
garden in Camden NJ.
↓ Moose 2 adds a twist to their weekly PT
(Physical Training) with salsa dance lessons.
↓ (Bottom) Buffalo 5 member, Teouna
Alexander, puts her tools trainings skills to
work out on the spike round.
→ Ta-Jah Gordon of Buffalo 1 admires the
construction work of fellow teammates.

GET TO THE POINT | APRIL 25, 2014

9

CORPS AMB ASS ADORS

Our First Rodeo!
Raven One highlights the excitement of
hosting CAP events early in Round One.

By: Spencer Varner

W

e’ve had two CAP events!! The first one was a
small event from about fifteen to twenty people aging from eighteen to twentyfour, and the
second event was a rather large event of about two hundred and fifty to three hundred people with a wide variety
of ages. Our first event was at CFET for a few of the Rutgers University students; they were all very interested in
AmeriCorps. They asked plenty of questions and even
challenged our knowledge a bit about a few other things
offered through AmeriCorps. We worked very well together and as a team with Moose 4 and we look forward to collaborating with them again very soon. Our second CAP
Event was at the Camden Children’s Garden for the Girl
Scouts of America and their families. We had very few
people and they were not as interested as the previous
groups were, but they still listened to us. Many people
were asking questions, being very engaged with us, and,
although some people were hassling with their kids, they
came back for brochures and other things on the table.

the rest of this round and all future CAP events. We are
prepared for almost anything; there may also be more collaboration going on in the future with Moose 4 and possibly other teams in the area.

We have more CAP events lined up and we are plan on
going over and beyond our goal that we set for ourselves.
Overall both CAP events went great; we are excited about

Two opportunities to serve are better than
one!
FEMA Corps

AmeriCorps NCCC

We are members of NCCC FEMA Corps, a partnership

We are members of the National Civilian Community
Corps, an AmeriCorps Program. “N-triple-C” members
are 18-24 years old and spend 10 months getting things
done for America while developing their own leadership
skills.

between FEMA and AmeriCorps NCCC. NCCC FEMA
Corps members are 19-24 years old and spend 10 months
getting things done for America while developing their
own leadership skills.
We serve on teams and are devoted solely to the
administration of emergency management through
FEMA. Example of what we do:

10

We serve on teams to help communities...


Prepare for and respond to disasters



Help surviors fill our applications for assistance



Build homes



Order materials and track inventory



Help the environment



Update files and databases

APRIL 25, 2014| GET TO THE POINT

SOCI AL WELLNESS

Navigating new ways...

An insight through the transition into the NCCC world via
Fox One Health and Wellness Liaison Garrett Brown.

I

consider myself a pretty sociable person, but first
impression of me may not make that so apparent.
Though I enjoy socializing and meeting new people,
my typical behavior at a party or gathering is to
stand away to the side and talk to those who make an effort
to talk to me. It’s a tried and true method that almost always fails, and I doubt I’ve ever left a party as “that cool,
mysterious stranger” and have instead been “that quiet guy
who seemed very lost.”

to shy away from committing to a bit, I then spent the next
four days completely isolated from everyone and refusing
to speak at all whenever I was in the common area. Eventually the house felt bad enough for me that everyone
forced me to integrate, and by week two I was openly talkMy introduction to NCCC was no different. After touching ing to and socializing with my new peers.
down in the airport in Jackson, I waited in the baggage Though it ended up working out for me in the end, I could
claim for my transportation to arrive, watching more and have saved myself so much trouble by just saying “hello” to
more corps members spill in from across the country. A people and trying to hold conversation. The thing about
few would turn to me and make an offhanded joke or com- being shy or uncomfortable with meeting new people is
ment, I’d smile and nod along as if I was afraid of them and that those people don’t know you’re shy or uncomfortable.
didn’t understand English. The TLs would make an effort A smile and a handshake or nod is all that it takes to make
to shape the group of us into a circle where we were all fac- a good first impression, and your new acquaintances will
ing one another and holding one big conversation, I’d be none the wiser to your fears.
slowly slink out of it, clutching my phone as if I was attending to extremely important business matters and not just That’s not to say that it’s wrong to be the person off in the
texting my friends about a great new idea I had for a joke corner. Some people are naturally going to be reserved because that’s the way they are, and some people are going to
about Doritos.
be somewhat idiosyncratic in social situations because
Things weren’t much better once I got to campus. I didn’t that’s how they’ve always been.
actually make it to my dorm until about 9:00 at night,
where I promptly went straight to bed. I started to feel I now go out of my way to be a little more gregarious and
guilty after an hour of catatonic nothingness and decided I welcoming when introducing myself to new people, but I’m
should make an effort to talk to the people in my dorm. I still probably going to express “hello” with a primordial
went downstairs into the common room, picked a chair grunt that makes me sound like a caveperson with sleep
outside the circle of people who were talking to one anoth- apnea. That’s just who I am. But I can be myself while still
er, and sat quietly as everyone gave me quick, questioning trying to be a little friendlier.
glances and then resumed their conversations. My plan
There’s no fault for being quieter than others, and
was working excellently. Good job, me. You’re making so there’s no flaw in getting nervous around unfamiliar peomany friends right now.
ple. But a lot of the time that next friendship can be as simOne of them then asked if I’d like to join the conversation. ple as saying hello and letting conversation naturally flow
Oh no! That’s not how this thing is supposed to go! My out of it. Try to make a conscious effort to step just a bit
beautiful plan, in tatters! Unsure of what to do, I decided out of your comfort zone, even if it’s just to ask someone
you aren’t that familiar with how their day is going. SomeI’d be my natural self and play it totally cool and casual.
“N-no, I’m good here,” I mumbled, averting my eyes from times the result is worth the discomfort of the action, and
the group. “I’ll just, uh, sit here. And be creepy?” It was a meeting new people and strengthening relationships with
masterfully tactful save, and I was on the fast track to those who are distant is definitely much worth it. Besides,
forming lifelong friendships with my new peers. Never one that joke about Doritos probably isn’t as funny as you think
it is.
GET TO THE POINT | APRIL 25, 2014

11

FI RE C AMP G ALLE RY

↑

Raven Unit Support Team Leader, Calvin Landrum help training staff
put the hose for training in place.

← Lauren Meyer practices the newly gained skills of using the fusees
during a training session.
↓

12

APRIL 25, 2014| GET TO THE POINT

Our three traditional units gather, all for one and one for all — Class
XX Phoenix Wildland Fire fighters.

FI RE C AMP G ALLE RY

→ Check out our Nomex! Wildland firefights
are happy to adorn their new uniform.
↓

→ (Bottom Right) An integral part of
preparing for a prescribed burn, member
practice digging fire line.

GET TO THE POINT | APRIL 25, 2014

13

FE ATURE

MALLEABLE MOOSE ONE
Malleable: the ability to become adaptable and flexible to any situation or
circumstance.
By: Emerald Rogers , M1

M

oose 1 has been known as being malleable since becoming a team. With the
ever-changing schedule during CTI, to
finding out Chris Hughes is on Phoenix 1, to not knowing
our spike housing until the day before departure for
Round One, Moose 1 has had their fair share of being malleable.
Being a second-year Corps Member, flexible was not a
new word in my vocabulary. In fact, it was “FEMA flexible” for me, as I was a part of the inaugural class of AmeriCorps NCCC FEMA Corps in Sacramento, CA. I could go
on and on about the past year, but I will keep it short and
sweet. I developed my personal and professional skills
which I would not have gained elsewhere, and did two of
my favorite things throughout the year: serve and travel.
New places, new projects, and most importantly: a new
team. This is what I am getting myself for the second time.
It may be hard to not compare last year to this year in regards to what I listed above. However, one major thing
that has helped me is keeping an open mind. With an
open mind comes the opportunity to embrace whatever
comes your way.
So far, Moose 1 has set the bar high in terms of how this
year will go. We have been through a lot with one another
and it has only been a month. We “accidentally” missed
the exit for the Southern Region campus and continued
over the bridge into Louisiana, challenged ourselves during the Ropes Course, and sang Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believein’” at the top of our lungs. These are just a few of the
many memories Moose 1 has had, and there are definitely
more to come.
Moose 1 is living the cot life in a church. However, we
all love how spacious it is. The guys and girls have different rooms, the industrial-sized kitchen is nice when there
are only eight people sharing it, and we can do PT, watch
movies, or just hang out in the many rooms. Our POC at

14

APRIL 25, 2014| GET TO THE POINT

FE ATURE

Before

After

↑

Collaboration is key! Various members of Moose 1 work together to remove debris.

← Part of a days work is best shown through these before and after pictures.
← (Far Left Top) Wheeling through the day together!
← (Far Left Bottom) Moose 1 housing for round one.

the church was even nice enough to cook us cheddar soup
and make homemade ice tea on our first night here.
As for our project, Moose 1 is serving with Great Kids
Farm in Catonsville, MD. The overall mission of the organization is to “provide opportunities for Baltimore City Public School students to understand and participate in every
aspect of food preparation - from seed to fork - and prepare them to lead 21st century sustainability efforts.” To
get further information on what exactly Great Kids Farm
does during our orientation made not only me, but the rest
of the team connect more with the project itself.
In our two weeks of service, we have done a lot of tough,
demanding work. We have had to be malleable at times as
the weather has frequently changed, but we haven’t let that
stop us from getting things done. During our two weeks,
we have filled three dumpsters full of debris, cleared out
and demolished a shade structure, planted and transplanted various lettuces and onions, and Sawyers have gotten

“With an open mind comes
the opportunity to embrace
whatever comes your way.”
the chance to chainsaw. Everyone has been putting full
effort into the work we’ve been doing, and it’s only going
up from here.
This just goes to show how far we’ve all come within the
past month and a half. Team Reveal was a month ago, but
to all, it’s felt longer than that. To think the next eight
months won’t go by fast is an understatement. As of now,
we are all holding on for the ride of our lives, committing
to be more and get things done for America!

Hometown: Eden, N.C. (very similar to New York City,
only much smaller, with very few people and no tall
buildings)
Where did you go to school: MA in Homeland Security, American Military University, WV

What are you looking forward to in your NCCC
experience: Experiencing all of the great and unique
personalities of the Corps Members, they are smart, creative, talented and most of all selfless.

What is one of the beautiful places you’ve ever
visited?: Alaska (it must be what North America looked
like before man trashed it).

Favorite quote: “I Am” by Jesus Christ.

Who is someone you admire?: My father, he taught
me to discover your passion in life and not be afraid to
make it your life.
What is one of craziest things
you’ve ever done?: I jumped out of
airplanes for eleven years as a U.S. Army Paratrooper. Being a soldier period
was crazy, flying, fighting and getting
paid for it….awesome.

16 GET TO THE POINT | MARCH 26, 2014

RECIPES

A twist on T

P

art of the learning curb of joining
AmeriCorps NCCC is the collaborative team effort for grocery shopping
and meal planning. A popular favorite over
the years has been taco night! It can surface
in various ways, “Taco Tuesday” or “Burrito
& Taco Wednesday” but the lovely concept
tacos bring to the table is the meals capabilities to be flexible and feed those with various
dietary needs. In this this twist on taco night,
your support team leaders share some of
their alternative ways of enjoying a classic
meal.
“I love spice, the
more jalapeños
the better.”

For the love of Avocado’s
A popular addition to any meal for the support team leader group let’s explore the
world of avocados.

Avocado Spread: European sailors en route to
the New World used avocados in place of butter.
Avocado Varieties: There are more than 80
varieties of avocados. The most common is the
year-round Hass avocado, whose original mother tree still stands in California.
Avocado Nutrition: Avocados are a good
source of fiber, potassium, and vitamins C,K,
folate, and B6. Half an avocado has 160 calories,
15 grams of heart-healthy unsaturated fat, and
only 2 grams saturated fat

A
C
O
N
I
G
H
T

GET TO THE POINT | APRIL 25, 2014

17

TE AM PROJE CT M AP

Where are they now?
Round 1, Week 3
After spending an extra week in Vicksburg, Mississippi for FEMA specific
trainings our Fox Units joins the rest of the traditional units out in the field.

“To Chris Chalkey and
his team for heading to
Alaska! Best of luck and
enjoy it Fox 5.”

“Big shout out to our
OPSTL’s Glenn and
Daniel for helping out
while we were back on
campus while also
prepping for FEMA
class A!”

ALL UNITS

FOX 3

“Shout to Phoenix 1 for keeping their
spirits up through the rain.”

MEGANNE, P1 TL

“Shout out to our HaWL,
Kristen Beierwaltes, for her
amazing sleep awareness
goody bags for the whole
team!”

Thank
you for
stepping
up Kim!
You
Rock.”

FOX UNIT
BUFFALO 1

Shout Outs?

Shouts Outs are short messages submitted by
teams when they have them through the WPR to
share with the rest of the Corps.

“Thank you
ET for
providing
endless
entertainme
nt these past
two weeks!”

STL’S

“Shout out
to our
Phoenix
One team
member!
We miss
you very
much!”

MOOSE 5

GET TO THE POINT | APRIL 25, 2014

19

CHANT & PLEDGE

AMERICORPS
PLEDGE
I will get things done for America to make our people safer,
smarter, and healthier.
I will bring Americans together
to strengthen our communities.
Faced with apathy,
I will take action.
Faced with conflict,
I will seek common ground.

ATLANTIC REGION
CHANT
Who’s got the heart?

Faced with adversity,

I’ve got the heart (3x)

I will persevere.

Who’s got the strength?

I will carry this commitment
with me this year and beyond.
I am an AmeriCorps member,
and I will get things done.

I’ve got the strength (3x)
Who’s got the will?
I’ve got the will (3x)
When do we get started!?
Let’s get it started now (2x)